An old thrifted dress that felt a little too short and a little too dated becomes a preppy, tunic-y top. I opened the side seams and shortened it about 4 inches. It's much better now.
(We like to call ourselves frugal, not cheap.)

I was trying to avoid the awkward standing against the wall head-cut-off self portrait, and in the process mastered the dorky holding the camera in the (dirty) mirror shot. The trouble I was having getting a good photo caused the sour expression. More restyled clothes are in the works. A skirt is fixin' to become a smocky thing. If I can figure it out.

Have a great Tuesday!

Posted by Alicia at 11:56 AM | Permalink | Comments (21)

A trash pile work table + a coat of cheap (ReStore) paint + good helpers = a happy mama.

Spring is really agreeing with me. We're checking off so many items on our outside to-do list: clearing out all the beds, raking leaves, sprucing up the patio, re-staining and painting outdoor furniture. There's plenty left to do, including making a raised bed for a small vegetable patch. J and I want to grow tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, and a few herbs. This is the first time we've planned a garden in several years and I don't want it to overwhelm us. I'd love for it to be a family activity and a fun learning experience for all.

I've got lots on my inside to-do list this week too: sew new throw pillow covers for the couch, pack and mail a few overdue parcels, do a bit of Spring cleaning. Plus I'm dying to make some clothes for myself. Have you seen what Julie has been making? This little tunic is gorgeous. And this is adorable- I love the puffy sleeves. I'm so inspired to make a shirt or two. Just for me and just for grins. I hope it goes well 'cause I'm all about happiness right now.

Posted by Alicia at 04:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (9)

Don't you just love finding secret messages? I do. Such sweet little surprises.

Garage saling in St. Louis, we found this tiny vintage (school?) table with three chairs and hauled it all the way home so it could gather dust in the basement for a couple of years. Yesterday I brought it up, wiped it down, and shored up the wobbly legs. When I opened the drawer on one end, this drawing was hiding inside.

I thought about it for a long time. Who drew it? Did they love someone or were they just doodling? Where are they now? Then this morning I remembered these.

These are on the underneath side of our dining table, which we purchased at a garage sale in our old neighborhood before we were even married. The one on the left makes me smile. The arrow points to one end of the table where someone would sit. Here's how it plays out in my mind: someone shy had a boy over and planted the message beforehand. She arranged for him to sit in that spot and the whole time they worked on their science project, she knew, that her love was secretly declared to him. (It could have happened!)

But the secret messages I find most often are in my sketch book when I leave it down low. Scribbly little faces. Wonky train engines. The name of a tiny boy who is learning to read and write. I don't mind one bit. They make me smile too.

Have you ever found any messages like these?

Posted by Alicia at 02:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (12)

Can these shoes be back in style, please? I found them at a thrift store this weekend. I LOVE them, and they're surprisingly comfortable.

I wanted these or a pair of wooden clogs when I was in the third or fourth grade, but my mom wouldn't let me have either. She said I'd break my arm. When my friend Wendy Scott got some clogs and tripped going down the stairs, guess what she did. She broke her arm. It didn't help my case one bit.

I found quite a few nice thrifted things this weekend. One is even a big piece of furniture that needs some love. The problem is I love the thrift store a little too much. I find great used things, most of which we need or can use, but I've been going overboard lately. Our fabulous summer is winding down. We've taken several vacations and spent a little too much. Suddenly I'm feeling the need to pare down and tighten the ship. With the arrival of a new season and the beginning of the school year, I want simple. Less clutter. And I'm dying to finish some of the things we've started. Fall cleaning- it seems to be a new trend. Today is the office/workroom.

We've also set some new spending rules and a few of them will affect my blog-life. First, I'm putting a temporary moratorium on swaps. I love them, but those little projects and postage can add up. Next, I'm self-imposing a Use What You Have period for the rest of August and all of September. I have plenty of projects to work on and my fabric stash has been slowly growing. I bet I could cover every surface in the house with patchwork.

And I just might.

Posted by Alicia at 11:25 AM | Permalink | Comments (28)

I am so incredibly tickled at all the people who commented on my 100th post. Thank you so much! And if you haven't yet, be sure to, so you'll be entered for the apron drawing. (Ahem- that's means you- my St. Louis friends and family!)

My mom and I found this tiny rocker at a garage sale just now. It's perfectly N sized. I love second hand stuff for many reasons. First, the "mystery history". How many babies have plopped down into this seat? The more the merrier! Second, fixing up something and giving it a new life is thrilling. My thought here is to clean it, paint it, and make a little cushion. I'm envisioning a simple little patchwork number. Third, you just have to love a great deal. $2- Can't beat that!

This week I've been crushing pretty hard over some teeny tiny things. So fun and fascinating. But I've never even had a dollhouse. Until now! At the same garage sale we found this suitcase style dollhouse. There aren't many rooms, but it has a working door and garage door and already J has set up shop making roads leading up to it with painters tape and is busy driving cars in and out. I'm tempted to sand it a little and paint it up, all gingerbread-house-like. It's kind of nice just plain how it is too. Clean it up a little and be done. Hmmmm.... I can't decide. Either way, it's a baby step into the dollhouse world. Not to overwhelming.

And just so you know, I'm taking a long break from the computer next week because we have some fun family plans. I'm sure I'll be twitchy for the first day or two, but then it will be nice. I'll be back next Monday. So this means I probably won't even be publishing comments. But PLEASE feel free to leave them, especially to enter the drawing! I'll announce the winner on Monday, July 3rd.

Thank you again for dropping by and hanging out!

Posted by Alicia at 01:53 PM | Permalink | Comments (11)

Every once in awhile, J will come whispering in our ears, "Should we build a fire tonight?" and Brian rarely misses the chance. He's got a thing for fires, and he seems to have passed the trait to his son. So when J asked tonight, it seemed a fitting way to end a perfectly fine Father's Day.

Several years ago, Brian was driving to work. (If you haven't checked out the ReStore link over in the sidebar, you should. There are ReStores all over the country and they are so very cool.) Anyway, passing someone's trash pile, he noticed a big 1970's fireplace complete with screen, hoisted the huge thing into the back of the car and took it. He gave it to the store to sell. Later in the day, he described it over the phone as "something you'd lay in front of on a green shag rug, listening to your Hi-Fi." o. k.

The next day I was down at the store looking at something unrelated and saw it. I flipped out! "Don't we need this for our patio- for an outdoor fireplace?!" He yanked it off the floor, explained to everyone that he was un-donating it and that was that. We've been hanging out in front of it for years. It's absolutely perfect. The tall flue directs the smoke up above your head, and the golden-rod yellow is very retro hip. It is hands down our best trash pile find ever. And we have many of those such finds in our home.

So tonight we made a fire in Sputnik, as we have named her, as our homemade ice cream churned. J could hardly wait for it to finish, and my Dad and Mom came over for a bowl. Mmmm... nice Father's day.

Posted by Alicia at 08:34 PM | Permalink | Comments (15)

I found this fabric for 50¢. Cute, no? Is it vintage? I don't know how to tell. I looks kind of 1970's to me. I think it will make a cute little dress for N from a simple pattern that Tasha sent me.

And this piano was $5. It is so sturdy and cute and makes that great plinky plunky sound that all tiny pianos should make. N played with a few minutes, and then I sat precariously on the wee stool and played for a good twenty minutes all by myself.

I watched my sister's youngest daughter, Jill, today. Here are the babies dining alfresco. The weather has been downright perfect for a couple of days, and I am finding it hard to go inside. See my MSL laying open on the quilt behind them? That's my spot.

Happy Monday, everyone!

Posted by Alicia at 12:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (7)

Just a quick Corner today, nothing spectacular, but we're really feeling the need to appreciate our family around here this week. These are pictures of my babies when they were both new. N is on the left, J on the right. They were each about 3 weeks old.

Here is one other picture I took today. Thrifted goodness: a dress for the funky fabric, and some adorable, fancy French baby shoes ($2) The brand is babybotte- I looked them up and they go for about $50. I'm feeling good about that deal. They are size 24, which I think is about a 7. I can't imagine her feet ever being this big, but these kids do grow quickly!

Also, if I put this in writing, it might help me get it all done. Here's the stuff I've been working on this week:

designing new tags
redesigning my business cards
still hunting for fabric tags
ordered a rubber stamp of my mayfly logo from Office Max (only $13!)
finishing up a little something for a not-so-little someone
laundrypalooza (too bad it isn't as much fun as it sounds.)

Posted by Alicia at 12:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)